NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Somalia(2018/2784(RSP))

B8‑0323/2018

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Somalia, notably 15 September 2016 and 16 November 2017,

- having regard to the statement by Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on the attack in Mogadishu, Somalia of 15 October 2017,

- having regard to the statements by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service on the attacks in Somalia of 27 November 2016, 25 January 2017, 19 and 27 February 2017, 9 and 20 June 2017, 31 July 2017 and 10 and 30 October 2017,

- having regard to the Local EU Statement on the recent Somalia National Security Council of 14 June 2018,

- having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 2372 adopted on 30 August 2017, 2383 adopted on 7 November 2017, 2408 adopted on 27 March 2018 and 2415 adopted on 15 May 2018,

- having regard to the UN Secretary-General‘s reports on Somalia to the UN Security Council of 9 January 2017, 9 May 2017, 5 September 2017, 26 December 2017 and 2 May 2018,

- Having regard to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,

- having regards to the European Union Delegation to Somalia and the two CSDP military missions operating in Somalia (EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, EUTM Somalia); Coordination and joint activities taking place with EU-funded agencies, such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM),

- having regard to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) statements of 13 March 2017, 11 April 2017, 15 October 2017, 12 February 2018, 16 March 2018, 28 April 2018 and 24 May 2018,

- having regard to the African Union Mission to Somalia‘s (AMISOM) statement of 8 November 2017, announcing AMISOM‘s intention to initiate a phased withdrawal of troops from Somalia from December 2017, with the intention of a full withdrawal by 2020,

- having regard to the African Union Mission to Somalia’s (AMISOM) statement of 28 February 2018, concluding an AU human rights delegation assessment mission to Somalia and of 26 October 2018, in reference to the AU, UN, and Somali Federal Government crisis meeting on the Mogadishu bomb attack,

- having regard to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the ACP and the EU,

- having regard to the mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

- having regard to the Organisation of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combatting of Terrorism, adopted in 1999,

- having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedures.

A. Whereas Somalia‘s progress toward stable statehood remains a highly volatile affair, given that after over two decades of civil war, absence of state control and terrorism, the country remains in a state of flux politically and socially;

B. Whereas in February 2017, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a dual US-Somali citizen, was elected President of Somalia; whereas, despite ongoing security concerns and a chaotic and disrupted electoral process, the election nevertheless represented a relative improvement over the previous presidential election of 2012;

D. Whereas the Al-Shabaab militants have committed a number of grave human rights violations in areas under their control, including the abduction and indoctrination of children to be used in armed conflict; whereas people living in informal displacement camps in government controlled areas face serious human rights abuses, including rape and forced evictions;

D. Whereas the people of Somalia are suffering severely from the consequences of continuous attacks targeting civilian areas by terrorist groups; whereas one of the worst terrorist attacks worldwide in many years took place in Mogadishu on 14 October 2017, with a death toll estimated at 358; whereas in 2017, and continuously in 2018, car bombings, random shootings, targeted executions and abductions have taken place throughout Somalia;

E. Whereas AMISOM is mandated to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups, to provide security in order to enable the political process at all levels, and to enable the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, which is contingent on the capabilities of the latter;

F. Whereas, whilst Al-Shabaab has suffered heavy losses from counterterrorism operations in recent years, UN reports indicate that the ISIS/Daesh faction in Somalia has grown significantly;

G. Whereas the United States has suspended food and fuel as well as financial aid for most of Somalia’s armed forces over the concerns of corruption, lack of accountability and the Somali government’s failure to build a viable national army,

H. Whereas the government security forces of Somalia, unlawfully killed and wounded civilians because of internal fighting between government forces at an aid distribution site in Baidoa in June 2017;

I. Whereas civilian populations have been targeted during clashes by regional forces and clan militia, especially in Lower Shabelle, Galguduud and Hiraan regions;

J. Whereas 167 countries have ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict; whereas Somalia has signed but not ratified the Optional Protocol;

1. Expresses its deepest sympathy with the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Somalia, and deeply regrets the loss of lives;

2. Strongly condemns the perpetrators of terrorist attacks and calls for them to be brought to justice;

3. Supports the outcome of the National Security Council meeting in Baidoa in South West State; welcomes the approval of the Transition Plan for security and the agreement to proceed with its implementation;

4. Expresses the need for an all-inclusive dialogue between the country’s social sectors, including the clans and tribes that compose the Somali nation;

5. Commends President Mohamed on respecting the country’s tradition of power-sharing by appointing representatives from various Somali clans to ministerial positions within the Government;

6. Welcomes the determination of the Federal Government of Somalia to accelerate agreements on other pending constitutional issues, such as power sharing;

7. Recalls that an essential factor in achieving lasting stability and peace lies in upholding respect for the rule of law, democratic practices, free and fair elections, respect for common standards of human rights and the freedom of expression and media;

8. Urges the Somali Government to finalize the Somalia National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) as part of the country‘s Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS), supported by AMISOM;

9. Supports the EU, Member States and its international partners to remain strongly committed to cooperating with Somalia in building legitimate institutions and a Somali-owned security sector to combat terrorism and provide protection for the Somali population; urges cooperation between different troops in acquiring a strong mutual understanding in combatting Islamic insurgencies in Somalia;

10. Calls on domestic and foreign troops, which intervene in the fight against Al Shabaab, to act according to international law; unequivocally condemns unlawful killings of civilians and calls for increased transparency into investigations conducted;

11. Strongly condemns the use of sexual and gender-based violence and the recruitment of children in armed conflict; calls for all parties to comply to their obligations under international law;

12. Urges all actors in Somalia to abide by the objectives of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and encourages the Government of Somalia to ratify it without delay;

13. Calls for better EU monitoring and capacity building to ensure accountability for abuses by AMISOM, especially given the fact that the EU is responsible for the bulk of its funding;

14. Calls for humanitarian organizations and agencies to have free access to vulnerable civilians; considers it unacceptable that restrictions on aid workers are imposed by parties to the conflict;

15. Calls on the Somali government to foster the exchange of views with other nations where destabilising actors and threats to peace and security are also of concern, specifically in constructing effective and culturally acceptable strategies;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament of Somalia, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.